CIMM – IRCC’s General Responsive Measures for Conflicts in Sudan and Israel and the Palestinian Territories – May 27, 2024

Key Facts

Assisted Departures:

• Since October 2023, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has led consular operations, including assisted departures, to assist Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents (PRs), and their family members who sought to leave Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

Immigration and Resettlement Measures:

• On December 21, 2023, IRCC announced temporary immigration measures to support family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents from the region, as well as Israelis and Palestinians already in Canada by providing access to fee-exempt study permits or open work permits, ensuring access to education and the labour market while in Canada. These individuals can also extend their existing status free of charge.
• On January 9, 2024, IRCC launched a special temporary resident pathway for certain extended family members of Canadian citizens and PRs currently residing in Gaza. This measure aims to provide a temporary safe haven for Palestinians directly affected by the crisis in Gaza who have Canadian citizen or permanent resident family members in Canada willing to support them. Once in Canada, eligible people can apply for a fee-exempt study permit or open work permit under the measures announced in December.
• An updated public policy is now in effect with a cap of 5,000 applications accepted into processing. The cap was increased in response to the on-going humanitarian crisis and the high-level of concern from Canadians and permanent residents wanting to help their loved ones in Gaza.

Interim Federal Health Program:

• Some permanent residents and foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who arrived via assisted departure from the region, along with extended family members in the temporary resident pathway, are eligible for Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage for a period of three months.

Key Messages

• Canada remains deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza and empathizes with those affected. Our focus remains on keeping families together and bringing them to safety as quickly as possible.
• On January 9, 2024, IRCC launched a special temporary resident pathway for extended family members of Canadian citizens and PRs currently residing in Gaza. This measure aims to provide a temporary safe haven for Palestinians directly affected by the crisis in Gaza who have Canadian citizen or permanent resident family members in Canada willing to support them.
• Given the high level of interest from Canadians and permanent residents concerned for their loved ones in Gaza, we increased the number of temporary resident visa applications that will be accepted into processing as part of the special measures for extended family in Gaza from 1,000 to 5,000.
• Israel has recently agreed to Canada’s request to facilitate the exit of extended family members in Gaza as part of their expanding humanitarian efforts.
• We recognize that Israel and Egypt are both key partners in implementing these temporary humanitarian measures, and our efforts to help people reunite with their family in Canada.
• Unfortunately, the Rafah Border has remained closed since May 7. At this time there are no crossings into Egypt, however Canada is ready to receive applicants in Cairo once the border reopens.
• Measures have been put in place to allow Israelis and Palestinians already in Canada who are eligible and who may not feel safe to return to their home country or region, to apply in Canada for a fee-exempt study permit or an open work permit and continue studying, working or visiting family.
• Foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and PRs arriving as temporary residents have the ability to apply inland for fee-exempt study and open work permits, provided they are currently in Canada and they, along with their Canadian citizen or permanent resident relative, left Israel or Palestine on or after October 7, 2023.
• IRCC continues to review complete crisis webform submissions to issue unique codes to apply for a TRV. Complete TRV applications will continue to be assessed until we reach the 5,000 cap.
• IRCC is also prioritizing processing of existing and new permanent resident applications for Palestinians within most family-based streams, for example, family class and overseas dependents of protected persons in Canada.

Supplementary Information

If pressed on reports that medical workers fleeing Gaza were asked if they treated Hamas fighters

• As part of the enhanced biographical information collected during preliminary security screening, applicants may be asked additional questions concerning their employment history. They may also be asked to provide additional biographical information, such as their travel history over the last 10 years and their online presence. The information is used to determine their admissibility to Canada. By using the enhanced biographic information applicants provide, we are able to conduct preliminary security screening while people are still in Gaza. This is part of a standard practice in crisis response situations where IRCC does not have a presence on the ground to initiate initial screening and collection of biometrics.
• Due to privacy legislation, we cannot comment on individual cases.

If pressed on facilitative measures:

• PRs, as well as family members of Canadian citizens and PRs, who came to Canada following the assisted departures as well as those who arrive as part of the extended family temporary resident pathway are eligible for the IFHP for a period of three months to support immediate medical needs upon arrival.
• IRCC is working to enable access to settlement services for those arriving from Gaza, including as part of the extended family temporary resident pathway.
• Israelis and Palestinians already in Canada who feel unsafe returning home at this time also have the ability to apply inland for fee-exempt study permits and open work permits. These measures expire on June 12, 2024.

If pressed on ensuring measures are not exploited by Hamas:

• Biometric and full admissibility screening will be required before applicants can travel onward to Canada. It is important that we finalize applications before people arrive in Canada.
• The completion of security screening is a standard part of the review process and biometric checks are used to ensure safety to Canadians by identifying people who may be inadmissible or pose a threat to Canada.

If pressed on Israeli extremist settlers:

• All visitors, immigrants and resettled refugees are carefully screened before coming to Canada. Screening prevents people who pose a threat to the health, safety or security of Canadians from entering Canada.
• Israelis holding a National Israeli Passport who wish to visit, work or study in Canada require an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to board their flight to Canada. The Government of Canada conducts pre-travel screening of visa-exempt travelers through the eTA program to verify that these travelers are admissible to Canada.
• If a person is found to be inadmissible, their application for an eTA will be refused. A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will make the final determination about whether a person is admissible and can enter Canada when they arrive at a port of entry, such as an airport. Each case is decided on its own merits.

If pressed on removals to Gaza:

• At present, CBSA has an Administrative Deferrals of Removal (ADR) for the Gaza Strip that has been in place since November 27, 2012.
• The ADR is a temporary measure adopted when immediate action must be taken to defer removals in cases of humanitarian crisis. It is not meant to address persistent and systematic human rights problems that constitute an individualized risk.

If pressed on litigation:

• IRCC has received litigation (applications for leave and judicial review) involving applications related to this public policy. IRCC is unable to comment on matters before the Court.